Composition on traditional cultural family education

Traditional culture with Confucianism as the core is the source of Zeng Guofan's family education thoughts. Zeng's family education thoughts mainly cover the following aspects: "filial piety to friends" is the first moral education; self-cultivation to achieve "natural virtue"; It advocates an open-minded approach to scholarship; it also includes the approach to health care based on Lao-Zhuang’s philosophy. Zeng's tutoring thoughts inspire contemporary education to cultivate good human nature as the primary goal: Zeng's tutoring thoughts reveal that family education is the "source program" that needs to be compiled in the process of social civilization: Zeng's tutoring thoughts inspire contemporary education to realize its educational goals The "culture medium" of function is China's excellent traditional culture. Keywords: Zeng Guofan; family education thought; traditional culture Zeng Guofan is a very influential figure in modern Chinese history, and also a controversial figure. On the one hand, he led the Hunan army to brutally suppress the massive Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement, allowing the decadent late Qing Dynasty to survive. As a result, he was nicknamed "the one who had shaved his head"; on the other hand, as a generation of great Confucian scholars, he was deeply influenced by Chinese traditional culture. Influenced by culture, his moral writings, serving as an official and running the army can be described as outstanding. In particular, his effective family education has been praised by future generations. The families of officials and nobles in the past dynasties often enjoyed everything in one generation. Due to improper education, their children and grandchildren were arrogant, extravagant, dissolute, and eventually fell into depravity, and the family declined. The Zeng family has generations of talented people, and is an extremely rare and prosperous family in the country. The reason is Zeng Guofan's unique family education thought that combines the essence of traditional culture but is different from tradition and has pioneering qualities. 1. The origin of Zeng’s family education thoughts. Zeng Guofan studied hard since he was a child, and dabbled in classics, history, works, and collections. From his schooling process, we can understand Zeng’s profound acquisition of traditional culture and his broad exposure. Among the ministers of the Qing Dynasty, it was really rare. He was a great Confucianist in the Qing Dynasty. He adhered to Confucianism throughout his life, believed in the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, and was deeply influenced by Confucianism. Among the thirty-two sages he carefully selected and considered to be representative of traditional Chinese culture, Confucius was among them. He had great influence on Confucianism. The founder of Confucius is highly respected. But Zeng is not a pure guardian of Confucianism. He does not accept Confucianism invariably. Confucianism reflects the characteristics of inheritance and development, integration and innovation in him. His Confucian thought has its own characteristics: first, the positive thought of "knowing what is impossible and doing it". Zeng Guofan's attitude towards life is worldly, which can be seen from his life experience of constant struggle and the great importance he attaches to family education. That night, when the Qing government was helpless in the face of the overwhelming Taiping Army, Zeng, as a Confucian scholar and a powerless minister, worked hard to organize regiment training and personally led the Hunan Army to fight against the Taiping Army, which was several times larger than his own. Although he experienced setbacks and hardships and narrowly escaped death, he still managed to survive. However, after repeated defeats and defeats, they finally won and saved the late Qing Dynasty that was about to collapse. "Heaven moves vigorously, and a gentleman strives to constantly strive for self-improvement." Zeng understood this truth thoroughly. He paid great attention to family education throughout his life and regarded educating his children as his important obligation and responsibility. This was closely related to his positive attitude towards life. This positive attitude towards life valued his own social role and pursued "morality" and "morality". He regulates himself and his family according to the Confucian life goals of "cultivating one's moral character, managing one's family, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world". He fully understands that in order for a family to prosper, it must remain prosperous: "...Don't rely on temporary official titles, but rely on long-term family rules; don't rely on the sudden rise of one or two people, but rely on the maintenance of the masses." "Know it. "What cannot be done" comes from Confucius' "The Analects". It is a positive attitude towards life in Confucianism, an enterprising spirit that never admits defeat, and a supreme state of life. It has become Zeng's solution to the unpredictable changes. Social life, the complicated and strange officialdom, the wise words of wisdom are also his guiding thoughts for family education. The second is the academic thought of "reconciling the Han and Song Dynasties and drawing on the strengths of others". The "Han and Song" mentioned here refer to the two academic schools of Confucianism that emerged in different eras. "Han" refers to Confucianism in the Han Dynasty, which is characterized by its emphasis on the textual research of the Five Classics; "Song" refers to Neo-Confucianism in the Song and Ming Dynasties, which emphasizes the doctrines and discussions of the Four Books. Issues of cultivation of body, mind and life. Regarding the various schools within Wuxue, Zeng insisted on drawing on the strengths of others and being impartial. Therefore, he affirmed: "The Confucian sect of the state is Song Confucianism and does not abolish Sinology." In addition to Confucianism, he also absorbed the ideas of Mohism and Taoism. He especially praised Lao and Zhuang's Taoist thoughts, listed Zhuang and Zhou as a sage, praised his talents and cited them many times.

Even for Legalists, who were in conflict with Confucianism, he was able to choose the good and follow them. His absorption of Legalist ideas may be why Zeng Guofan, as a adherent of Confucian ideas of "benevolence and righteousness", later became the "leader" in the brutal suppression of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement. The best footnote is "I once had my head shaved." Zeng's eclectic approach to traditional culture not only demonstrates his broad mind for scholarship, but also serves as an inexhaustible source of ideas for his family education. The third one is the practical philosophy of “judge the world and apply it”. Zeng academically integrated the thoughts of various schools and schools. His absorption of the strengths of others was not unprincipled. His basic starting point was to apply his knowledge to the world. No matter which school or school he studied, he must pay attention to living in the real world. The effectiveness of practice is something Zeng particularly values. He believes that scholarship should be done step by step and in a down-to-earth manner. “If you want to study the classics, you must stick to one classic; if you want to make righteousness, you must read the manuscripts of one family; if you want to write ancient prose, you must read the collections of one family. Write each one. The same is true for style poetry, and the same is true for writing examination papers. You must not do both at the same time, otherwise you will be unable to do anything." This academic attitude is the embodiment of his dedication to practice, diligence and down-to-earth practical spirit. It is the guiding ideology that he educates future generations to follow in their conduct as a person, in their studies, and as officials. Fourth, "ruling the country and bringing peace to the world" is the inevitable pursuit of his personality ideal. Since ancient times, Chinese people have had the awareness that personal destiny is closely linked to the destiny of the country. This is an excellent tradition of Confucianism. The "awesome spirit" advocated by Mencius is the ideal personality that a "real man" must have. For thousands of years, it has been influencing the formation of the character of benevolent people in the traditional sense of the Chinese nation. The "awesome spirit" has become an important part of the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation. components. This naturally also affected Zeng Guofan. He was very aware of national worries. Facing the poor and weak old China at that time, he repeatedly issued initiatives such as establishing a machine bureau and sending overseas students. He advocated learning Western science and technology. This idea was very popular in the stubbornly conservative and self-proclaimed late Qing Dynasty. In the eyes of the ruler, he is no different than a "savage beast" and will be squeezed and attacked by all aspects of the government and the opposition. However, regardless of personal success or failure and the safety of his life, he insists on his own opinions and participates in person despite all opinions. This requires great political courage. This kind of courage stems from his ideal personality that always has a strong pursuit of "ruling the country and bringing peace to the world". This spiritual pursuit of taking the world as one's own responsibility has also become an important part of Zeng's family education, which directly affects the patriotism of future generations. In this regard, his son Zeng Jize is an example. He made great contributions to the recovery of Ili, Xinjiang, which was the only victory in the diplomatic history of the Qing government. Zeng Guofan's erudition stems from his lifelong habit of reading. Zeng studied hard since he was a child, read extensively, and took notes diligently. He never stopped even when his palace fortune was prosperous and his status was prominent. Reading was his daily homework. He studied ancient books so diligently and was so good at reading. Habits enable him to read widely, travel in the sea of ??books, and continuously absorb the essence of traditional culture, obtain the aura of sages of the past, and integrate his own insightful thinking, thus turning it into his own independent personality and taste The humanistic ideological system, the traditional culture with Confucianism as the core and integrating the essence of various schools is the source of Zeng Guofan's family education thoughts. 2. Zeng’s thoughts on family education. Zeng Guofan’s education for his descendants can be described as “tireless in teaching”. He taught them all aspects of being a person, an official, and a scholar. This is reflected in a letter he wrote to his family. The letter to his family is his He is an effective means of educating his family, which reflects his unique family education thoughts. (1) Combining Confucian and Mohist moral thoughts Confucianism has always had a tradition of attaching importance to moral education, paying attention to integrity and ethics, stressing the pursuit of lofty spiritual realms, emphasizing moral responsibility and a sense of historical mission, and gradually formed a long-term and a profound tradition of moral education. As a famous Confucian master in modern times, Zeng Guofan also attached great importance to the cultivation of moral character and always advocated having both ability and political integrity. He even paid more attention to the aspect of virtue. He believed that "virtue is like the source of water, and talent is its waves; virtue is like the root of wood." "Talent is its branches and leaves." 1. "Filial piety to friends" is the first of moral education. "Filial piety" is regarded as "the beginning of humanity and the source of all actions." For thousands of years, observing filial piety has been the core content of traditional Chinese family education. Confucius said: "If your parents are with you, if you don't travel far away, you must travel in the right way." ("The Analects of Confucius: Li Ren") Honoring parents is a traditional custom consistently advocated by Confucianism. Mencius believed that a gentleman has three kinds of happiness, "parents exist, brothers have no reason, and there is one happiness" ("Mencius: Devoting the Heart"); Mencius also said: "I should pay attention to the teachings of Xiangxu, apply the meaning of filial piety and brotherhood, and honor those who give white gifts." Wear it on the road.

"("Mencius: King Hui of Liang") Confucianism regards "filial piety and brotherhood" as the basic content of moral education in order to achieve the educational goal of "those who are awarded white will live up to the road" and "parents exist, and brothers have no reason." Zeng Guofan also attached great importance to the word "filial piety" in his family education.